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10 CHAPTER 10: STAIRCASES

Introduction
Staircases provide means of movement from one floor to another in a structure. Staircases
consist of a number of steps with landings at suitable intervals to provide comfort and safety
for the users.
Some common types of stairs are shown in Figure 10.1. These include straight-flight stairs,
quarter-turn stairs, half-turn stairs, branching stairs, and geometrical stairs.

(a) (b) (c)

(d) (e)

(f) (g)
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(h) (i) (j)

Figure 10.1: (a); (b) Straight flight stairs; (c) Quarter-turn stairs; (d)
Half-turn stairs; (e) Branching stairs; (f) Open-well (half turn); (g)
Open-well with quarter turn landing; (h); (i); (j) Geometrical stairs

Technical Terms
The definitions of some technical terms, which are used in connection with design of stairs, are
given.
a. Tread or Going: horizontal upper portion of a step.
b. Riser: vertical portion of a step.
c. Rise: vertical distance between two consecutive treads.
d. Flight: a series of steps provided between two landings.
e. Landing: a horizontal slab provided between two flights.
f. Waist: the least thickness of a stair slab.
g. Winder: radiating or angular tapering steps.
h. Soffit: the bottom surface of a stair slab.
i. Nosing: the intersection of the tread and the riser.
j. Headroom: the vertical distance from a line connecting the nosings of all treads and the
soffit above.
Figure 10.2 shows main technical terms associated with stairs design.
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Figure 10.2: Stairs main technical terms

Types of Stairs
For purpose of design, stairs are classified into two types; transversely, and longitudinally
supported.
a- Transversely supported (transverse to the direction of movement):
Transversely supported stairs include:
§ Simply supported steps supported by two walls or beams or a combination of both.
§ Steps cantilevering from a wall or a beam.
§ Stairs cantilevering from a central spine beam.
b- Longitudinally supported (in the direction of movement):
These stairs span between supports at the top and bottom of a flight and unsupported at the
sides. Longitudinally supported stairs may be supported in any of the following manners:
a. Beams or walls at the outside edges of the landings.
b. Internal beams at the ends of the flight in addition to beams or walls at the outside edges of
the landings.
c. Landings which are supported by beams or walls running in the longitudinal direction.
d. A combination of (a) or (b), and (c).
e. Stairs with quarter landings associated with open-well stairs.
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Design of Stairs
Simply Supported
Figure 10.3 shows a stair, simply supported on reinforced concrete walls.

Figure 10.3: Simply supported stairs

The waist is chosen to accommodate the reinforcement using appropriate concrete cover. A
waist t of 7.5 cm is reasonable for this type of stair.
Loading:
a. Dead load:
The dead load includes own weight of the step, own weight of the waist slab, and surface
finishes on the steps and on the soffit.
b. Live Load:
Live load is taken as building design live load plus 150 kg/m2, with a maximum value of 500
kg/m2.
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Design for Shear and Flexure:

Each step is designed for shear and flexure. Main reinforcement runs in the transverse
direction at the bottom side of the steps while shrinkage reinforcement runs at the bottom side
of the slab in the longitudinal direction. Since the step is not rectangular, an equivalent
rectangular section can be used with an average height equals to

t R
havg = +
cos α 2

Example (10.1):
Design a straight flight staircase in a residential building that is supported on reinforced
concrete walls 1.5 m apart (center-to-center) on both sides and carries a live load of 300 kg/m2.
The risers are 16 cm and goings are 30 cm. Goings are provided with 3 cm thick marble finish
while 2 cm thick plaster is applied to both the risers and bottom surfaces of the slab.
Use fc′ = 250 kg/cm2 , f y = 4200 kg/cm2 , γ plaster = 2.2 t/m3 , and γmarble = 2.6 t/m3 .

Solution:
Minimum stair thickness required to satisfy deflection requirements is given by
l 150
hmin = = = 7.5 cm
20 20
Let slab waist t be equal to 7.5 cm.
Average step height is given as
7.5 7.5
havg = 8 + =8+ = 16.5 cm > 7.5 cm
cos α 0.8823
Loading:
a. Dead load:
Own weight of step = (0.30) (0.16/2) (2.5) = 0.06 t/m of step
Own weight of slab = (0.34) (0.075) (2.5) = 0.06375 t/m of step
Weight of marble finish = (0.03) (0.30) (2.6) = 0.0234 t/m of step
Weight of plaster finish = (0.02) (0.34 + 0.16) (2.2) = 0.022 t/m of step
b. Live load:
Live load = (0.30) (0.3) = 0.09 t/m of step
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c. Factored load:
wu =1.2 (0.06 + 0.06375 + 0.0234 + 0.022) + 1.6 (0.09) = 0.35 t/m of step

Shear Force:
0.35 (1.5 )
Vu ,max = = 0.263 t
2
d = 16.5 – 2.0 – 0.6 = 13.9 cm
Φ Vc = 0.75 (0.53) 250 (30 )(13.9 ) / 1000 = 2.62 t > 0.263 t

i.e. step thickness is adequate for resisting beam shear without using shear reinforcement.
Bending Moment:

0.35 (1.5 )2
M u , max = = 0.10 t .m
8
Flexural reinforcement ratio is given by

0.85 (250 )  2.353 (10 )5 (0.10 ) 

ρ= 1 − 1 − = 0.000459
4200 
 0 . 9 (30 )(13 .9 )2
(250 ) 


As = As min = 0.0018 (30 )(16.5) = 0.891 cm2 /step

Use 1φ 12 mm for each step.

For shrinkage reinforcement, As = 0.0018 (100)(7.5) =1.35 cm2 /m

Use 1φ 8 mm @ 30 cm in the longitudinal direction. Figure 10.4 shows provided reinforcement

details.
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Figure 10.4: Reinforcement details

Cantilever Stairs
Figure 10.5 shows a stairs cantilevered from a reinforced concrete wall. The waist is chosen to
accommodate the reinforcement using appropriate concrete cover. A waist t of 7.5 cm is
reasonable for this type of stairs.
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Figure 10.5: Cantilever stairs

Loading:
a. Dead load:
The dead load includes own weight of the step, own weight of the waist slab, surface finishes
on the steps and on the soffit, in addition to a concentrated dead load of 100 kg on each step,
applied at its free end.
b. Live Load:
Live load is taken as building design live load plus 150 kg/m2 with a maximum value of 500
kg/m2.

Design for Shear and Flexure:

Each step is designed for shear and flexure. Main reinforcement runs in the transverse
direction at the top side of the steps, while shrinkage reinforcement runs at the bottom side of
the slab in the transverse and longitudinal directions. To hold the top reinforcement in position
φ 6 mm stirrups are used every 20 to 25 cm.
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Example (10.2):
Redesign the stair shown in Example (10.1) if it is a cantilever type of a clear span of 1.6 m.

Solution:
Minimum stair thickness required to satisfy deflection requirements is given by
l 160
hmin = = = 16.0 cm
10 10
Let slab waist t be equal to 7.5 cm.
Average step height is given as
7.5 7.5
havg = 8 + =8+ = 16.5 cm > 16.0 cm
cos α 0.8823
Shear Force:
Vu , max = 0.35 (1.6 ) + 1.2 (0.1) = 0.68 t

d = 16.5 – 2.0 – 0.6 – 0.6 = 13.3 cm

Φ Vc = 0.75 (0.53) 250 (30 )(13.3) / 1000 = 2.51t > 0.68 t

i.e. step thickness is adequate for resisting beam shear without using shear reinforcement.

Bending Moment:

0.35 (1.6 )2
M u , max = + 1.2 (0.1)(1.6 ) = 0.64 t .m
2
Flexural reinforcement ratio is given by

0.85 (250 )  2.353 (10 )5 (0.64 ) 

ρ= 1− 1− = 0.0033 As = 0.0033 (30 )(13.3) = 1.32 cm2 / step
4200 
 0.9 (30 )(13.3 ) (250 ) 
2

Use 2 φ 10 mm for each step.

For shrinkage reinforcement, As = 0.0018 (100 )(7.5) =1.35 cm2 / m

Use 1φ 8 mm @ 30 cm in both directions.

Figure 10.6 shows details of provided reinforcement.
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Figure 10.6: Reinforcement details

Longitudinally-Supported Stairs
This type of stairs is designed as one-way slab supported at the top and bottom of the flight,
while the steps themselves are treated as nonstructural elements. Figure 10.7 shows a half-turn
longitudinally supported stairs.

Figure 10.7: Longitudinally supported stairs

Deflection Requirement:
Since a flight of stairs is stiffer than a slab of thickness equal to the waist t, minimum required
slab depth is reduced by 15 %.
Effective Span:
The effective span is taken as the horizontal distance between centerlines of supporting
elements.
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Loading:
a. Dead Load:
The dead load, which can be calculated on horizontal plan, includes:
§ Own weight of the steps.
§ Own weight of the slab. For flight load calculations, this load is to be increased by
dividing it by cos α to get it on horizontal projection, where α is the angle of slope of
the flight.
§ Surface finishes on the flight and on the landings. For flight load calculations, the part of
load acting on slope is to be increased by dividing it by cos α to get it on horizontal
projection.
b. Live Load:
Live load is always given on horizontal projection.
Design for Shear and Flexure:
The stairs slab is designed for maximum shear and flexure. Main reinforcement runs in the
longitudinal direction, while shrinkage reinforcement runs in the transverse direction. Special
attention has to be paid to reinforcement detail at opening joints, as shown in Figure 10.8.

Figure 10.8: Opening and closing joints

Example (10.3):
Design the staircase shown in Figure 10.9.a. The risers are 15 cm and goings are 25 cm, and
story height is 3.3 m. Goings are provided with 3cm-thick marble finish on cement mortar that
weighs 120 kg/m2, while 2 cm thick plaster is applied to both the risers and bottom surfaces of
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the slab. The landings are surface finished with terrazzo tiles on sand filling that weighs 160
kg/m2 . The stair is to be designed for a live load of 300 kg/m2.
Use f c′ = 250 kg / cm 2 , f y = 4200 kg / cm 2 , and γ plaster = 2.2 t / m3 .

Figure 10.9.a: Longitudinally supported stairs

Solution:
Minimum stair thickness required to satisfy deflection requirements is given by
 480 
hmin = 0.85   = 20.4 cm
 20 
Let slab waist t be equal to 21.0 cm.
Loading (flight):
a. Dead load:
Own weight of step = (0.15/2) (2.5) = 0.1875 t/m2
Own weight of slab = (0.21) (2.5) / 0.857 = 0.613 t/m2
Weight of marble finish = 0.12 t/m2
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Weight of plaster finish = (0.02) (2.2) / 0.857 = 0.051 t/m2

b. Live load:
Live load = 0.3 t/m2
c. Factored load:

wu = 1.2 (0.1875 + 0.613 + 0.12 + 0.051) + 1.6 ( 0.3 ) = 1.65 t / m2

wu = 1.65 (1.15 ) = 1.90 t / m

Loading (landing):
a. Dead load:
Own weight of slab = (0.21) (2.5) = 0.525 t/m2
Weight of terrazzo finish = 0.16 t/m2
Weight of plaster finish = (0.02) (2.2) = 0.044 t/m2
b. Live load:
Live load = 0.3 t/m2
c. Factored load:

wu = 1.2 (0.525 + 0.16 + 0.044 ) + 1.6 ( 0.3 ) = 1.35 t / m2

wu = 1.35 (1.3 ) = 1.76 t / m

Shear Force:
 2.5 
Vu ,max = 1.76 ( 1.15 ) + 1.9   = 4.40 t
 2 
d = 21.0 – 2.0 – 0.7 = 18.3 cm

Φ Vc = 0.75 (0.53) 250 (115 )(18.3) / 1000 = 13.23 t > 4.40 t

i.e. slab thickness is adequate for resisting beam shear without using shear reinforcement.

Bending Moment:
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Figure 10.9.b: Bending moment diagram

M u , max = 5.38 t .m as shown in Figure 10.9.b

Flexural reinforcement ratio is given by

0.85 (250 )  2.353 (10 )5 (5.38 ) 

ρ= 1 − 1 − = 0.00384
4200 
 0 .9 (115 )(18 . 3 )2
(250 ) 


As = 0.00384 (115 )(18.3 ) = 8.08 cm2

Use 8 φ 12 mm .

For shrinkage reinforcement, As = 0.0018 (100)(21) = 3.78 cm2 /m

Use 1φ 8 mm @ 10 cm in the transverse direction.

Design of Landing Beam:
Use 20 × 40 cm cross section for the landing beam.
Loading:
Load from landing = 4.4/1.30 = 3.38 t/m
Own weight of beam = 1.2(0.2)(0.40)(2.5) = 0.24 t/m
Own weight of brick wall = 1.2 (3.3 – 0.19) (12.5) (20/1000) = 0.93 t/m
wu = 3.38 + 0.24 + 0.93 = 4.55 t/m

d = 40.0 – 4.0 – 0.8 – 0.7 = 34.5 cm

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Bending Moment:

4.55 (2.8 )2
M u , max = = 4.46 t .m
8
Flexural reinforcement ratio is given by

0.85 (250 )  2.353 (10 )5 (4.46 ) 

ρ= 1 − 1 −  = 0.00523
4200 
 0 . 9 (20 )(34 . 5 )2
(250 ) 


As = 0.00523 (20 )(34.5 ) = 3.61 cm2

Use 3 φ 14 mm .
Shear Force:
4.55 (2.8 )
Vu ,max = = 6.37 t
2

Φ Vc = 0.75 (0.53) 250 (20 )(34.5 ) / 1000 = 4.34 tons

ΦVs = Vu − Φ Vc = 6.37 − 4.34 = 2.03

Av f y d
Vs = , and
S
Av Vs
=
S f yd

Av
=
(2.03)(1000 ) = 0 .0187 cm2 /cm > 3.5 (20 )
S 0 .75 (4200 )(34.5 ) 4200

Use φ 8 mm stirrups @ 15 cm.

Figure 10.9.c shows provided reinforcement details.
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Figure 10.9.c: Reinforcement details

Open-Well Stairs
These are treated as longitudinally supported stairs discussed in the previous section. When a
landing supports loads in two directions, half the landing load is considered for the design of
each of these two directions. Figure 10.10 shows an open-well stairs with quarter-turn landing.

Figure 10.10: Open-Well stairs

Example (10.4):
Design the staircase shown in Figure 10.10.a. The risers are 16 cm, goings are 25 cm, and story
height is 3.5 m. Goings are provided with 3 cm thick marble finish on cement mortar that
weighs 120 kg/m2, while 2 cm thick plaster is applied to both the risers and bottom surfaces of
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the slab. The landings are surface finished with terrazzo tiles on sand filling that weighs 160
kg/m2. The stair is to be designed for a live load of 300 kg/m2.
Use f c′ = 250 kg / cm 2 , f y = 4200 kg / cm 2 , γ plaster = 2.2 t / m3 .

Figure 10.10.a: Open-Well stairs

Solution:
A- Flights 1 and 3:
Minimum stair thickness required to satisfy deflection requirements is given by
 420 
hmin = 0.85   = 17.85 cm
 20 
Let slab waist t be equal to 18.0 cm.
Loading (flight):
a. Dead load:
Own weight of step = (0.16/2) (2.5) = 0.20 t/m2
Own weight of slab = (0.18) (2.5) / 0.8423 = 0.534 t/m2
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Weight of marble finish = 0.12 t/m2

Weight of plaster finish = (0.02) (2.2) / 0.8423 = 0.0522 t/m2
b. Live load:
Live load = 0.3 t/m2
c. Factored load:
wu = 1.2 (0.20 + 0.534 + 0.12 + 0.0522 ) + 1.6 (0.3 ) = 1.57 t/m2

wu=1.57 (1)=1.57 t/m

Loading (landing):
a. Dead load:
Own weight of slab = (0.18)(2.5) = 0.45 t/m2
Weight of terrazzo finish = 0.16 t/m2
Weight of plaster finish = (0.02)(2.2) = 0.044 t/m2
b. Live load:
Live load = 0.3 t/m2
c. Factored load:
wu = 1.2 (0.45 + 0.16 + 0.044 ) + 1.6 (0.3 ) = 1.26 t/m2

wu1=1.26 (1.5)= 1.89 t/m

wu2=1.26 (0.5)=0.63 t/m
Shear Force:
Vu , max = 3.47 ton

For Φ 14 mm bars:
d = 18.0 – 2.0 – 0.7 = 15.3 cm

Φ Vc = 0.75 (0.53) 250 (100 )(15.3 ) / 1000 = 9.62 t > 3.47 t

i.e. slab thickness is adequate for resisting beam shear without using shear reinforcement.
Bending Moment:
M u , max = 3.28 t .m as shown in Figure 10.10.b.

Flexural reinforcement ratio is given by

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0.85 (250 )  2.353 (10 )5 (3.28 ) 

ρ= 1 − 1 −  = 0.00385
4200 
 0 .9 (100 )(15 . 3 )2
(250 ) 


As = 0.00385 (100 )(15.3 ) = 5.89 cm2

Use 6 φ 12 mm .

Figure 10.10.b: Shear force and bending moment diagrams

For shrinkage reinforcement, As = 0.0018 (100 )(18) = 3.24 cm2 / m

Use 1φ 8 mm @ 15 cm in the transverse direction.

Figure 10.10.c shows reinforcement details for flights 1 and 3.

Figure 10.10.c: Reinforcement details for flights 1 and 3

B- Flight 2:
Shear Force:
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Vu , max = 1.672 t

d = 18.0 – 3.0 – 0.8 = 14.2 cm

Φ Vc = 0.85 (0.53) 250 (100 )(14.2) / 1000 =10.11t > 1.672 t

i.e. slab thickness is adequate for resisting beam shear without using shear reinforcement.
Bending Moment:

Figure 10.10.d: Bending moment diagram

M u , max = 1.45 t .m as shown in Figure 10.10.d.

Flexural reinforcement ratio is given by

0.85 (250 )  2.353 (10 )5 (1.45 ) 

ρ= 1− 1− = 0.00194
4200 
 0 . 9 (100 )(14 . 2 )2
(250 ) 


As = 0.00194 (100 )(14.2 ) = 2.76 cm2

As, min = 0.0018 (100 )(18) = 3.24 cm2 /m

Use 5 φ 10 mm .

For shrinkage reinforcement, As = 0.0018 (100 )(18) = 3.24 cm 2 /m

Use 1φ 8mm@15 cm in the transverse direction.

Figure 10.10.e shows reinforcement details for flight 2.
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Figure 10.10.e: Reinforcement details for flight 2